Evaporator plate coil unit



July 5, 1966 F. R. TRULASKE EVAPORATCR PLATE COIL UNIT Filed Jan. 22,1964 M s M w mn w NU R ER 0 VTMT N. T IR A United States Patent3,259,184 EVAPORATOR PLATE COIL UNIT Frank R. Trulaske, Grafton, 111.,assignor to True Manufacturing Co. Inc., St. Louis, Mo., a corporationof Missouri Fiied Jan. 22, 1964, Ser. No. 339,534 7 Claims. (Cl. 165171)This invention relates generally to improvements in a plate coil unit,and more particularly to an improved assembly of a coil withinterconnected individual plate members to provide an assembly that canbe advantageously utilized as an evaporator plate structure in arefrigeration system.

It is an important object to achieve an evaporator plate structure thatcan be readily assembled, and which has an extremely efficientconductance or transference of cold from the coil to the plate members.

An' important objective is realized by the structural arrangement andinterconnection of the component par-ts of the evaporator plate coilwhich adapts the device to be constructed in any desired lengthsdepending upon the lengths of the evaporator coil merely by connectingan appropriate number of individual plate members. These evaporatorplate coils can be and are used in the refrigeration system ofrefrigerated beverage coolers and the like, to keep items cold, aspartitions to separate the Various items in the cooler, and as shelveson which items can be placed.

Another important object is afforded by the provision of a coil bent ina side to side serpentine shape having a plurality of adjacentsubstantially parallel lengths interconnected by reverse bends, and aplurality of plate members located and secured in side by side relationacross the coil lengths, each plate member including a flange providedwith a plurality of recesses for receiving and holding the transversecoil lengths.

Still another important object is provided in that the recesses ofadjacent plate members receiving the same coil length cooperate tosubstantially enclose the circumference of the coil length so as to fixthe plate members to the coil.

An important object is achieved by the unique manner of connecting thecoil lengths to the plate flanges. Each recess of each plate flange isat least partially defined by a margin conforming substantially to apart of the circumference of the coil length, and the recesses ofadjacent plate members receiving the same coil length are relativelyreversed so that the margins face in opposite directions. These recessmargins of adjacent plate members cooperate to substantially enclose thecircumference of the coil lengths extending therebetween so as to fixthe plate members to the coil.

Another important objective is attained by the provision of bearingsurfaces extending transversely of each plate member and engaging aconsiderable part of the coil lengths in order to effect a large areacontact for most eflicient cold transfer. These bearing surfaces areadvantageously formed by depressed or grooved portions in the platemember.

Yet another important object is realized in that the bearing surfaces ofeach plate member are aligned with the conforming recess margins in theside flanges so that the bearing surfaces of one plate member engage thecoil lengths on one side while the bearing surfaces of the next adjacentplate member engage the coil lengths on the opposite side.

An important objective is afforded by constructing the plate members ofU-shaped channels having spaced side flanges interconnected by anintervening web, the

' U-shaped plate members being disposed in side by side "ice relationacross the coil lengths with one side flange of each plate membercontiguous with one side flange of the next adjacent plate member. Thecontiguous side flanges have the recess structure for holding andreceiving the coil lengths, and the webs of the plate members have theconforming bearing surfaces extending along and engaging the transversecoil lengths, all as mentioned previously.

Another important object is to provide an evaporator plate coil that issimple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture andassemble, and highly efficient in operation.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages of the inventionwill more clearly appear from the following detailed description of apreferred embodiment, particularly when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1- is a front elevational View of the evaporator plate coil withthe center portion broken away;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view as seen from the right of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an inverted end plate member;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an upwardly facing plate member, and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view as seen along line 5-5 ofFIG. 1. I

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, and first toFIG. 1, it is seen that the evaporator plate coil structure includes atubular coil 10 formed in a serpentine shape from side to side toprovide a plurality of adjacent and parallel coil lengths 11interconnected by reverse bends 12. The coil 10 is adapted to receiveand transfer refrigerant flow in a refrigeration system. In thepreferred embodiment, the coil 10 is of a circular cross section as isbest illustrated in FIG. 5. Of course, any suitable cross section can beutilized.

A plurality of plate members generally indicated by 13 in FIGS. 4 and 5are operatively interconnected together and to the coil 10. Each ofthese plate members 13 are of identical construction so that a detaileddescription of one will suffice for the other.

From FIGS. 4 and 5, it is seen that the plate member 13 is constructedof a substantially U-shaped channel having spaced side flanges 14 and 15integrally interconnected by an intervening Web 16. Each of the sideflanges 14 and 15 is provided with a plurality of spaced recesses 17 and18 respectively. The recesses 17 and 18 are of the same configurationand are aligned directly opposite each other. These recesses 17 and 18are open through the flanges 14 and 15 respectively so as to receive thecoil lengths 11 extending across the plate member 13.

Each of the recesses 17 and 18 is at least partially defined by a margin20 that is offset to one side of the entrance to such recesses. Therecess margin 20 conforms substantially to a part of the circumferenceof the coil length 11 received in the recess 17 or 18 and cooperateswith a similar margin 20 in an aligned, but relatively reversed recessin a next adjacent plate member to fix the coil length to the platemembers, all as will be later described.

As mentioned previously, the conforming recess margin 20 is offset fromthe recess entrance so that the coil lengths can be shifted relative tothe side flanges 14 and 15 in the recesses in order to bring theperipheral surface of the coil lengths against the conforming recessmargins 20. In view of the fact that the coil lengths 11 are circular incross section, the conforming recess margins 20 are substantiallysemi-circular so that when the margins 20 abut the coil lengths 11,portions of the side flanges defining the recess margins 20 will overlapthe coil lengths 11 and preclude withdrawal from the recesses.

Extending across the web 16 between the side flanges 14 and 15 are aplurality of bearing surfaces 21 having a shape that conforms to thecircumferential configuration of the coil lengths 11. In the presentembodiment, the bearing surfaces 21 are arcuate to conform to thecircular cross section of the coil lengths 11. As is best seen in FIGS.4 and 5, the arcuate bearing surfaces 21 are aligned directly with theconforming recess margins 20 of the opposed flange recesses 17 and 18 sothat when the coil lengths 11 are brought into contact with the recessmargins 20 the arcuate bearing surfaces 21 will engage a substantialportion of the coil length circumference in order to provide a largearea contact between the coil length 11 and the plate web 16 for mostefficient conductance of cold from the coil to the plate member. Thearcuate bearing surfaces 21 are formed by striking a depression orgroove 22 in the back side of the web 16.

The side flange 14 is provided with an outstruck tab 23 near one end ofthe plate member 13 and is provided with a compatible slot 24 at theopposite end. Similarly, the side flange is provided with an outstrucktab 25 at one end of the plate member 13 directly opposite the slot 24in the other side flange 14. Provided in side flange 15 is a compatibleslot 26 aligned directly opposite the tab 23 formed in the opposite sideflange 14. These tabs and slots are utilized to connect the platemembers 13 together in side by ide relation.

The plate members 13 are arranged one at a time in a row in side by siderelation across the coil lengths 11. The plate members 13 are arrangedso that they all open in the same direction. Every other plate member 13is reversed endwise relative to the next adjacent plate member so thatthe arcuate recess margins in contiguous side flanges 14 or 15 face inopposite directions.

First, one plate member 13a (FIG. 1) is located under and across thecoil 10 and the coil lengths 11 are disposed in the recesses 18 of sideflange 15, the reverse coil bends 12 being located over the web 16 andbetween the side flanges 14 and 15. Then, the plate member is shiftedendwise to bring the periphery of the coil lengths 11 into engagementwith the arcuate recess margins 20. Then, the next adjacent plate member13b is relatively reversed endwise and is located under the coil 10 andparallel to the next preceding plate member 13a so that side flanges 15are in contiguous side by side relation, and the coil lengths 11 arelocated in the flange recesses 17 and 18. This last plate member 13b isthen shifted endwise in the opposite direction to bring the coilperiphery into engagement with the recess margins 20. Because theflanges 15 of adjacent plate members 13a and 1312 are disposed incontiguous relationship, the recesses 18 of such contiguous side flanges15 are relatively reversed so that the arcuate margins 20 form asubstantial circle and grip the circumference of the coil lengths 11securely to preclude removal of the coil lengths 11 from the recesses18.

When the adjacent plate members 13:: and 13b are relatively shifted tobring the oppositely facing recess margins 20 into engagement with theperiphery of the coil lengths 11, as described, tabs of abutting andcontiguous side flanges 15 will interfit the coacting slots 26. A toolis fitted over the contiguous flanges 15 and is pressed down to bend thetabs 25 over in order to secure these adjacent plate members 13a and1311 together.

Of course, the next adjacent plate member 13c added to the assemblydescribed previously will be located endwise so that the side flanges 14will abut. The coil lengths 11 are located in the recesses 17 and thisplate member 13c is shifted endwise in a similar manner to bring therecess margins 20 into engagement with and overlapping relation to theperiphery of the coil lengths 11 to preclude removal of the coil lengths11 from the recesses 17. When the side flanges 14 are located incontiguous relationship, the tabs 23 will interfit the coacting slots24, the tabs 23 being bent over to secure the adjacent plate members 13band 130 together.

The plate members 1311 through 13e are added one at a time in thismanner until the appropriate length of the evaporator plate unit isrealized. It will be noted that upon such assembly, the arcuate bearingsurfaces 21 of each alternate plate member 13a, 13c and 13:2, forexample, will engage the coil lengths 11 extending between the sideflanges along one side. The bearing surfaces 21 of each other alternateand next adjacent plate member 13b and 13d, for example, will engage thecoil lengths 11 along the opposite side.

This arrangement provides the most eflicient cold transfer from the coillengths 11 to the webs 16 of the plate members 13. The arcuate bearingsurfaces 21 provide the maximum amount of surface contact area betweenthe coil lengths 11 and the plate webs 16, and avoid the inefficientline contact between the coil and plate of the heretofore conventionalevaporators. Moreover, transfer of the cold is made from the coillengths 11 to the plate members 13 first along one side of the coil andthen along the other side for most eflicient conductance, rather thanhaving the plate members engage the coil only on one side or in astraight line contact.

After the plate members 13, arranged in side by side relation, have beensecured together and have been fastened to the coil 10 to provide anevaporator unit of the appropriate length, an end plate member 27 (FIG.3), identical in construction to the plate member 13 (FIG. 4) but withthe projecting tabs 23 and 25 straightened, is inverted and placed overthe upwardly facing plate members 13a and 1319 at each end of the unit.For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the inverted end plate member 27a isdisposed so that its respective side flange 14 is arranged in contiguousrelation to the side flange 14 of plate member 13a and its side flange15 is arranged in contiguous relation to the contiguous side flange 15of adjacent plate members 13a and 13b. The other end plate member 27b isdisposed so that its side flange 15 is arranged contiguous to the sideflange 15 of the plate member 13c, and so that its side flange 14 isarranged contiguous to the side flanges 14 of the adjacent plate members13d and 13a. Again, it will be noted that by inserting the coil lengths11 in the recesses 17 and 18 of these inverted end plate members 27a and27b and shifting such plate members endwise to bring the periphery ofthe coil lengths 11 against the recess margins 20, the coil lengths 11are precluded from being withdrawn from recesses 17 and 18.

When the inverted end plate members 27a and 27b are disposed in thismanner, the contiguous flanges 14 or 15 at the extreme ends of theevaporator plate unit are fastened together as by rivets 30.

Side channel strips 31 and 32 are located over the edges of the platemembers 13 and the end plate members 27 and are secured in place byrivets 33. These side channels 31 and 32 provide protection against thesharp edges of the plate members 13 and are utilized if needed. In someinstances, only one of the side channels 31 or 32 is desirable, and inother instances no such protective side channels are required.

From the above disclosure it is seen that the evaporator plate structureprovided by this unique connection of individual plate members 13 toeach other and to the coil 10 is extremely durable and rigid. It is madeof relatively few parts and is quickly and easily assembled. It is notedthat the coil 10 is secured to the plate members 13 automatically uponplacing of the coil lengths 11 in the flange recesess 17 and 18 and uponrelative shifting of the plate members to move the coil lengths 11 inthe recesses 17 and 18 against arcuate or conforming recess margins 20so that contiguous side flanges of adjacent plate members 13 completelyenclose and overlap the coil lengths 11 to rigidly secure the coil tothe plate members. When the plate members 13 and the coil 10 areinterconnected in this manner, the tabs 23 or 25 automatically interfitthe coacting slots 24 or 26 of the contiguous side flanges 14,

or 15, and such tabs can be quickly and easily bent over to secure theplate members 13 in place.

The evaporator plate coil unit when completed can be conveniently andadvantageously utilized in a refrigerated cooler. The evaporator platecoil unit can be disposed along the sides or ends of the coolercompartment or can be placed transversely or lengthwise wherever desiredto provide partitions or shelves.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed referenceto a single preferred embodiment, such detail is to be understood in aninstructive, rather than in any restrictive sense, many variants beingpossible within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. A plate coil unit comprising:

(a) a coil having a plurality of adjacent lengths interconnected byreverse bends, the coil lengths having a predetermined cross section,

(b) a plurality of plate members located in adjacent side by siderelation across the coil lengths,

(c) each plate member including a flange provided with a plurality ofrecesses, each recess having an entrance and partially defined by amargin offset to one side of the entrance, the offset margin conformingsubstantially to a part of the cross section of the coil length receivedin such recess and providing a portion overlapping the coil lengthreceived in the recess,

(d) the associated coacting recesses of adjacent plate members receivingthe same coil lengths being relatively reversed so that the said offsetmargins face in opposite directions, the said offset margins ofassociated coacting recesses of adjacent plate members cooperating toembrace and overlap the predetermined original cross section of the coillength extending therebetween so as to fix the plate members to thecoil, the entrances of associated coacting recesses of adjacent platemembers being displaced out of alignment relative to each other, and

(e) means securing the plate members together.

2. A plate coil as defined above in claim 1, in which:

(f) each plate meber includes a bearing surface conforming to a part ofthe predetermined original cross section of the coil length extendingacross the plate member, and engaging the coil length out of the planeof the plate member for eflicient conductance therebetween.

3. A plate coil comprising:

(a) a coil of substantially circular cross section bent back and forthto provide a plurality of adjacent lengths interconnected by reversebends,

(b) 'a plurality of plate members located in adjacent side by siderelation across the coil lengths,

(c) each plate member including a flange provided with a plurality ofrecesses, each recess having an entrance and partially defined by anarcuate margin offset to one side of the entrance providing a portionoverlapping the coil length received in the recess,

(d) the associated coacting recesess of adjacent plate members receivingthe same coil lengths being relatively reversed so that the offsetarcuate recess margins of one plate member face in one direction whilethe offset arcuate recess margins of the next adjacent plate member facein the opposite direction, the offset arcuate recess margins ofassociated coacting recesses of adjacent plate members cooperating toembrace and overlap the coil lengths extending therebetween so as to fixthe plate members to the coil,

alternate sides of a coil length extending across the plate members outof the plane of the plate members.

5. A plate coil comprising:

(a) a coil having a plurality of adjacent lengths interconnected byreverse bends the coil lengths having a predetermined cross section,

(b) a plurality of substantially U-shaped plate members, eachv platemember having spaced side flanges interconnected by an intervening web,

(0) the plate members being disposed in side by side relation across thecoil lengths with one side flange of each plate member contiguous to oneside flange of the next adjacent plate member,

(d) the contiguous side flanges being provided with a plurality ofrecesses receiving the coil lengths extending across the plate members,

(e) each recess in each contiguous side flange having an entrance andpartially defined by a margin offset to one side of the entrance, theoffset margin conforming substantially to a part of the cross section ofthe coil length and providing a portion overlapping the coil lengthreceived in the recess,

(f) the associated coacting recesses of contiguous side flanges beingrelatively reversed so that the said offset recess margins face inopposite directions, and the said offset recess margins of associatedcoacting recesses in contiguous side flanges cooperating to embrace andoverlap the predetermined original cross section of the coil lengthlocated therein so as to fix the plate members to the coil, theentrances of associated coacting recesses of contiguous side flangesbeing displaced out of alignment relative to each other, and

(g) means securing the contiguous side flanges togethe to hold the platemembers in assembly.

6. A plate coil as defined above in claim 5, in which:

(h) each plate member includes a plurality of depressed portions formingbearing surfaces conforming substantially to the cross section of thecoil lengths extending between the side flanges, the bearing surfaces ofeach plate member being aligned transversely with the said aligned andconforming recess margins in the side flanges, the bearing surfaces ofadjacent plate members engaging the coil lengths extending across theplate members on alternate sides out of plane of the webs to provide aneffective conductance between the coil and plate members.

7. A plate coil unit comprising:

(a) a coil having a plurality of adjacent lengths interconnected byreverse bends,

(b) a plurality of plate members located in adjacent side by siderelation across the coil lengths,

(0) each plate member including a flange provided with a plurality ofrecesses,

(d) each recess having an entrance and a margin offset to one side ofthe entrance providing a portion overlapping the coil length that isreceived in the recess and which is offset from the entrance in adirection toward the offset margin,

(e) the associated coacting recesses of adjacent plate members receivingthe same coil length being relatively reversed so that the offsetmargins of associated coacting recesses of adjacent plate members cooperate to overlap the coil length extending therebetween so as to fix theplate members to the coil,

(f) the entrances of the associated coacting recesses of adjacent platemembers being displaced out of alignment relative to each other topreclude withdrawal of the coil length through said entrances, and

(g) means holding the plate members in assembly.

(References on following page) 8 References Cited by the Examiner2,736,406 2/1956 Johnson 165-171 X UNITED STATES PATENTS 2, ,830 6/1958Huggins 29157.3 1 1915 Junkers 165 171 3,159,213 12/1964 Wurtz 165171 11 50 ldb 165168 X 1 3 23 165 171 5 ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.8/1954 Koerper M. A. ANTONAKAS, Assistant Examiner.

1. A PLATE COIL UNIT COMPRISING: (A) A COIL HAVING A PLURALITY OFADJACENT LENGTHS INTERCONNECTED BY REVERSE BENDS, THE COIL LENGTHSHAVING A PREDETERMINED CROSS SECTION, (B) A PLURALITY OF PLATE MEMBERSLOCATED IN ADJACENT SIDE BY SIDE RELATION ACROSS THE COIL LENGTHS, (C)EACH PLATE MEMBER INCLUDING A FLANGE PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OFRECESSES, EACH RECESS HAVING AN ENTRANCE AND PARTIALLY DEFINED BY AMARGIN OFFSET TO ONE SIDE OF THE ENTRANCE, THE OFFSET MARGIN CONFORMINGSUBSTANTIALLY TO A PART OF THE CROSS SECTON OF THE COIL LENGTH RECEIVEDIN SUCH RECESS AND PROVIDING A PORTION OVERLAPPING THE COIL LENGTHRECEIVED IN THE RECESS, (D) THE ASSOCIATED COACTING RECESSES OF ADJACENTPLATE MEMBERS RECEIVING THE SAME COIL LENGTHS BEING RELATIVELY REVERSEDSO THAT THE SAID OFFSET MARGINS FACE IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, THE SAIDOFFSET MARGINS OF ASSOCIATED COACTING RECESSES OF ADJACNET PLATE MEMBERSCOOPERATING TO EMBRACE AND OVERLAP THE PREDETERMINED ORIGINAL CROSSSECTION OF THE COIL LENGTH EXTENDING THEREBETWEEN SO SAID TO FIX THEPLATE MEMBERS TO THE COIL, THE ENTRANCES OF OSSCIATED COACTING RECESSESOF ADJACENT PLATE MEMBERS BEING DISPLACED OUT OF ALIGNMENT RELATIVE TOEACH OTHER, AND (E) MEANS SECURING THE PLATE MEMBERS TOGETHER.